Tape spool



March 13, 1934. A. HOPKINS TAPE SPOOL Filed July 21, 1933 INVENTOR Afihur G. Hopkms BY ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 13, 1934 entree stares TAPE SPOQL Arthur G. Hopkins, Maspeth, N. E L, assignor' to Metal Package (Corporation, New York, N. Y, a corporation of Delaware Application .liuly 21, 1193?, Serial No. 681,523

4 Claims.

This invention relates to spools and more particularly to assembled sheet metal spools for adhesive tape or the like.

It has heretofore been suggested to make spools for surgical adhesive tape out of a central core or body and separable ends with a view to permitting the cores to be wound with tape by appropriate mechanism prior to application of the ends or flanges to the spool. Such assembled spools have not proved satisfactory from a structural viewpoint and the primary and general object of the present invention is to structurally improve such assembled tape spools.

More particular objects of my invention are to provide an assembled tape spool which will be rigid and strong, it being fully equal to or even surpassing conventional unitary spools in strength and rigidity. A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of continuous interlocking folds of metal on the core and ends, these folds coming tightly into abutting relation and being held permanently in flat condition by the surrounding structural parts of the core and ends. Another object of my invention is to maintain a uniform smooth cylindrical surface for the core or body of the spool. Still further objects of the invention center about an intermediate step portion on the spool end, and are to rigidify the end, to provide spacing between the adhesive tape and the flanges of the spool, and to maintain a uniform diameter or flush construction between the core and the immediately adjacent portions of the ends.

To the accomplishment of the'foregoing and such other objects as will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the assembled spool ele ments and their relation one to the other as described in the following specification and sought to be defined in the appended claims. The invention is more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a partially sectioned elevation of a spool constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a partially sectioned elevation showing the parts of the spool in dissembled relation;

Fig. 3 is a section through the core of the spool taken in the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Fig. 4 is a section through the core of the spool taken in the plane of the line i-4 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, the spool of my invention comprises a body or core C and heads or ends E secured thereto. The core and ends are manufactured and sold in dissembled relation as shown in Fig. 2, because it is convenient for the manufacturer of the adhesive tape or other product to be Wound on the spool to apply a number of the cores C on an appropriate mandrel and to wind the same with tape all prior to subsequently adding or pressing in place the ends E.

The core C is a cylinder of metal, the ends of which are folded inwardly to form continuous 66 uniform marginal folds 12. The exterior of the core is preferably kept smooth and cylindrical in configuration. At the same time, it is more economical to roll the same up out of sheet metal than to use continuous tubing. The meeting ends of the core are therefore joined in a longitudinal seam 14 which may be formed and pressed in a conventional manner but which, it should be noted, is located within the cylindrical surface of the core, this being most clearly shown in Fig. 4.. The seam 14 is made appreciably shorter than the core, the ends 16 thereof being spaced from the ends of the core to clear not only the inward folds 12 but also the mating folds on the ends E subsequently described.

The ends E are pressed from sheet metal and comprise a flange portion 20, a hub portion 22 and preferably, though not necessarily, an intermediate step portion 24. The flange portion 20 may be of conventional type and is, of course, dimensioned in accordance with the requirements of the use to which the spool is to be put. The outer edge or periphery is preferably curled over in order to form a protective and stiffening bead 26. The hub 22 is dimensioned to be received within the core C. The inner edge of the hub is folded outwardly and reversely to form a continuous uniform fold 28.

In assembling the parts of the spool, it is simply necessary to force the ends E into the core C. The folds 28 and 12 are forced past one another whereupon they interlock and hold the parts in permanently assembled relation, as is best shown in Fig. 1. It is important to note in Fig. 1 that the relative dimensions of the core and ends and particularly of the folds 12 and 28 are so selected that the continuous edges of the folds 12 and 28 come directly and tightly into abutting relation and that any possibility of loosening of the interlocking engagement by opening of the folds is definitely and permanently prevented because the folds are themselves clamped between and held fiat by the hub 22 and the core C.

The intermediate portion 24 may be provided for any or all of a number of reasons. The use of such an intermediate step tends to strengthen and rigidify the spool end and particularly to maintain axial alinement between the hub and flange. Theintermedlate portion 24 also forms a spacing means between the ends of the core C and the flanges of the spool ends E. When dealing with surgical adhesive tape, such a clearance is desirable to avoid contact of the edges of the tape with the flanges of the spool. Clearance is also afforded for the beads 26 on the flanges. The outer diameter of the intermediate or step portion 24 is preferably made substantially equal to the outer diameter of the core C, this being clearly evident from an inspection of Fig. 1. This relation, in effect, provides a continuous cylinder of uniform diameter extending all the way from one flange to the other so that the spacing between the tape and flanges need not be determined solely by the width of the intermediate portion 24.

It will be understood that the spacing between step portion 24 and fold 28 is made equal to the width of fold 12 and that if the step portion 24 is omitted, a similar relation is then maintained between the flange 20 and the flange 28 for, in any case, it is contemplated that the folds 12 and 28 are to be tightly interlocked against both axial and radial movement.

The body of hub 22, instead of remaining perfectly constant in diameter, may conveniently taper or flare outwardly somewhat at the portion 30 joining the intermediate portion 24. This is convenient not only in manufacturing the end but helps to tightly center the end in the core due to the wedging action produced therebetween.

It is believed that the mode of constructing and using the improved spool of my invention, as well as the many advantages thereof, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. It will also be apparent that while I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, many changes and modifications may be made in the form and structure thereof within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An assembled spool comprising a core and a pair of ends, the core being a metal cylinder, the end portions of which are folded inwardly to form flat continuous folds of uniform Width, the spool ends comprising a flange portion, and a hub portion, the hub portion being dimensioned to fit in the core and having its inner end folded outwardly and reversely to form a continuous flat fold, the folds on the core and the ends being so relatively dimensioned that the ends may be forced into the core and there locked rigidly in place, the ends of the folds coming into abutting relation.

2. An assembled spool comprising a core and a pair of ends, the core being formed of sheet metal rolled into a smooth cylinder, the meeting ends of the sheet metal being united by a seam located within the cylinder, the endsof said seam terminating a substantial distance from the ends of the cylinder, the end portions of the cylinder being folded inwardly to form flat continuous folds of uniform width, the spool ends being pressed from sheet metal and comprising a flange portion, and a hub portion, the hub portion being dimensioned to fit in the core and having its inner end folded outwardly and reversely to form a continuous flat fold, the folds on the core and the ends being so relatively dimensioned that the ends may be forced into the core and there locked rigidly in place, the ends of the folds coming into abutting relation and the folds being held in flat condition between the core and the hub.

3. An assembled spool comprising a core and a pair of ends, the core being a metal cylinder, the end portions of which are folded inwardly to form flat continuous folds of uniform width, the spool ends comprising a flange portion, an intermediate step portion and a hub portion, the hub portion being dimensioned to fit in the core and having its inner end folded outwardly and reversely to form a continuous flat fold, the intermediate step portion having a diameter larger than that of the hub portion, the folds on the core and' the ends being so relatively dimensioned that the ends may be forced into the core and there locked rigidly and permanently in place, the ends of the folds coming tightly into abutting relation.

4. An assembled sheet metal spool for surgical adhesive tape or the like, said spool comprising a core and a pair of ends, the core being formed of sheet metal rolled into a smooth cylinder, the meeting ends of the sheet metal being united by a seam located within the cylinder, the ends of said seam terminating a substantial distance from the ends of the cylinder, the end portions of the cylinder being folded inwardly to form a flat continuous fold of uniform width, the spool ends being pressed from sheet metal and com prising a flange portion, an intermediate step portion and a hub portion, the hub portion being dimensioned to fit in the core and having its inner end folded outwardly and reversely to form a continuous flat fold, the intermediate step portion having a diameter equal to that of the core, I

the folds on the core and the ends being so relatively dimensioned, both radially and axially, that the ends may be forced into the core and there locked rigidly and permanently in place, the ends of the folds coming tightly into abutting relation and the folds being held in flat condition between the core and the hub.

ARTHUR G. HOPKINS. 

